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Opportunities and risks are equally important for obtaining a desired career. Like the two sides of a coin they are inseparable. And speaking of coins, your financial legacy relies upon how well you approach each, so read carefully this advice from Bruce Harpham at his blog on the subject.

The Writing on the Wall

For instance, did you know that job opportunities have now begun to increase significantly to match what they were before the recession hit in 2008? The average hourly wage has increased for Canadian managers (possible spillover for other countries there), and IT professionals are a hot item in the job market, a field that’s expected to grow faster than the overall market itself. However, the average unemployment duration remains 30.7 weeks (more than six months), so don’t count your chickens yet. Instead, let’s take a look at how one can directly and purposefully grow their career through an earnest risk management approach, balanced with a healthy pursuit of opportunity.

Career Risk Management

Without ample attention to career planning, financial and psychological hardships await you and your family! But don’t despair. There are things you can do to prevent such unwanted outcomes. First off, create an emergency savings fund to the tune of three to six months of living expenses. This is your financial safety net. Continue your education well after college, lest the job market evolve without you. Keep your social networks strong by staying in touch through meaningful interaction. Consider the quality of your unemployment insurance (or consider getting some).

Career Opportunity Enhancement

Once you’ve taken some basic risk prevention measures, you can focus more on the opportunity side of things. Collect and record all positive achievements for proof of your good standing. This might include positive emails, reports, or presentations. (Evidence speaks louder than words.) Additionally, education is as much an opportunity as it is a hedge against risk. Don’t limit the pursuit of knowledge to self-study. Mentors, instructor-led courses, and consulting offers a more in-depth “feet wet” approach to continual learning. And by the way, volunteering has never gone out of style. Pick an organization that aligns with your values and make it happen! Lastly, recruiting companies offer an outside perspective on your strengths and weaknesses, so don’t be shy about getting in touch with one or two.

That’s all the career advice that can be safely stuffed into this page.